2014 NFL Draft Preview: Tackles

A look at the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In the weeks leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft, DenverBroncos.com is taking a look at the draft prospects position-by-position.

We will devote a week to each group, looking back at some of the Broncos' previous picks at the position and showcasing the top prospects along with providing independent analyst Andrew Mason's take on what the Broncos might do at the position this year.

This week: offensive linemen, which we will divide into tackles and guards/centers.

Below you will find five of the top prospects at offensive tackle. For a photo gallery of the position group, click here.

• POSITION: Tackle • COLLEGE: Alabama • HEIGHT: 6'7"• WEIGHT: 322 • CAREER STATS: Started 26 of 35 games played • COMBINE: 5.59 40-yd. dash; 21 bench reps; 27.5 in. vert. jumpOn playing tackle: "To be a tackle, you have to be a different cat. You can’t lose at all. So you have to have some type of mentality, something different about you for you to win every single rep. Because you could get five pancakes in a game, and if he [the D-lineman you’re up against] gets one sack on you, then he’s the hero of the night. You have to win every rep."

• POSITION: Tackle • COLLEGE: Michigan • HEIGHT: 6'7"• WEIGHT: 309 • CAREER STATS: Started 48 of 50 games played • COMBINE: 4.87 40-yd. dash; 29 bench reps; 30.5 in. vert. jumpOn "nastiness" on the field: "As far as my strength as a player, I like to think I’m very consistent and I play through the whistle. That’s one of my weaknesses, too, as everybody likes to comment on. But no doubt about it, I like to play through the whistle and do whatever I can to put people in the dirt as much as possible.”

On his versatility: “I think I can play tackle, and I think I can play it at a high level, but at the same time I’m a versatile player. You’ve got to be a technician. You’ve got to study tape and know your opponent. There are other ways to get an advantage on your opponent and you have to find those." -via The Charlotte Observer

• POSITION: Tackle • COLLEGE: Texas A&M • HEIGHT: 6'5"• WEIGHT: 308 • CAREER STATS: Started 46 of 49 games played • COMBINE: 5.07 40-yd. dash; 24 bench reps; 30.5 in. vert. jumpOn blocking for Johnny Manziel: "It’s definitely different. You really don’t know what to expect -- he’s all over the place. But at the same time, you've got to take what comes with it because the guy makes plays. He’s proved it game after game. Like I said, I’m just trying to go out there and give him time and let him do what he does."

• POSITION: Tackle • COLLEGE: Auburn • HEIGHT: 6'5"• WEIGHT: 332• CAREER STATS: Started 25 of 26 games played • COMBINE: 4.92 40-yd. dash; 32 bench reps; 28.5 in. vert. jumpOn wanting to be the best tackle in the draft: “I’m pretty sure anybody at Auburn could vouch for me as far as my work ethic at the University. It’s just something I kept to myself and it was just a fire under me and I wanted to succeed. And it was my ultimate goal.”